I pause at his assessment. I’ve never thought of myself like that. But that’s exactly what I’m doing. At first, it felt foreign, but now, it feels like it was always inside of me, just waiting to get out.
“Well, after these disasters, my career in this town will be over before it begins.” I squeeze my eyes together, feeling a little helpless. Stupid. I always try to taste my products before I give them to anyone, and the one time I can’t, they taste like feet.
He clears his throat, gaze softening. “It’s not that bad…”
“But no one will buy from me again. No one will— Oh!” My hand moves swiftly to my stomach, the pain intense.
“Shit.” Griffin drops everything in his hands and rushes over.
“Ow…” I wince as I hold my belly, the tightening pain entirely new.
“What is it? What's wrong?” I hear his panic, but I also feel his hand. Warm, large, solid, and comforting on my back.
Fear takes over, making my voice shaky. “I don’t know…”
“Let’s get you to the doctor.”
“It’s okay, I’ll be— Ooow…” I wince again as my knees buckle.
“No, I’m taking you.” Without asking, Griffin picks me up, the movement so quick, I barely have time to register what’s happening as my feet leave the floor and he walks us out of the bakery.
“Griffin?” I grab on to him as he marches out into the street, straight to his truck.
“I’ve got you. It will be okay.” His face is still hard set, but his voice soothes me.
He places me into his truck with precise yet gentle movements, which contrast completely with the man I see working in my bakery.
“Here. Let’s get you settled.”
I swallow as he reaches over, putting my seat belt on, and even though I’m panicked and holding my belly, I’m completely aware of his closeness.
I’m trying to breathe through the anxiety taking over as he closes the door and runs around to the driver's side and speeds us away from the bakery.
“It’s too early… I have another few weeks. Something’s wrong…” I say quietly, and his frown deepens.
“You’ll be okay,” he grits out.
“Maybe I did something I shouldn’t have. Maybe I didn’t—”
He cuts me off. “It’s not your fault. Let’s get Hudson to see you before you get yourself too worked up.”
Nodding, I swallow hard as he looks at me, his eyes running down and back up, like he’s assessing me, and within five minutes, he’s screeching into the hospital parking lot.
“I’m scared, Griffin. Ow…” I grab my belly tighter, like my hold will ease the pain, but it doesn’t. Griffin’s out of the truck and at my door before I’ve even had a chance to take off my seat belt.
“Come on.” He pulls me from the seat, again carrying me into the hospital like I don't weigh the same as a whale.
“Hudson!” Griffin barks at the doctor so loudly I jump in his arms.
Dr. Hamilton looks up at us from where he’s standing at the reception desk and immediately springs straight into action.
“Down here.” The two men stride down a small hallway as I feel another pulse of pain rippling across my abdomen.
“Ahhhh…” I try to be quiet, gritting my teeth to contain the pain, but I can’t help the whimper that escapes. I curl into Griffin a little more, gripping on to his shirt, wanting to hide in his chest.
His hold on me tightens. “It’s okay, sweetness…” I barely hear his words, yet I feel them against my hair. I think he must have misspoke.
“What’s happening?” Griffin places me on the bed and steps to the side as Hudson starts his assessment.
